JOIN USIn a surprise move, E K Bharat Bhushan, head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been asked to relinquish his post by the government which did not give any reasons for the same.
Bhushan, who was given an extension as recently as July 3, had antagonised several sections of the aviation sector by his tough actions which is assumed to be the reason behind the move, taken in haste.
He recently wrote a letter to the civil aviation ministry saying the embattled Kingfisher Airlines should be directed to pay salaries to its employees within 15 days or asked to close shop.
He had also warned Air India, the state-run airline, to pay dues to its employees, which apparently, did not go well with the ministry.
Bhushan, who was holding additional charge, would be reverted to the civil aviation ministry, informed official sources indicated. Until recently, he was holding regular charge as additional secretary and financial adviser but was replaced. Thus, the Kerala-cadre officer has to await for his posting as there is no word on his future placement.
Ministry Joint Secretary Prashant Mukul has been asked to take additional charge as head of the DGCA. “Bhushan had rubbed several times on the wrong side by his actions. He has been asked to pay for his actions,” sources pointed out, refusing to be named.
Bhushan had taken over as head of civil aviation regulator in December 2010 from Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi on the latter’s promotion as ministry secretary.